Matsumoto ー 松本

Beautiful Castle Town and Base for Mountain Range:

Matsumoto is the center city of the middle area of Nagano prefecture. There is an old town around the Matsumoto Castle. The city`s historical architecture had survived the pacific war. One can also have a beautiful view of the Northern Alps from the city and the base of Mount Hotaka and Mount Norikura.

You can easily get to Matsumoto by the Chuo Line from Tokyo. There are many bus services from big cities of Japan such as Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya. When you are in Matsumoto, a rental bicycle is one of the means of sightseeing around the city.

By train

The Chuo line, 2 hours 30 minutes from Tokyo Shinjuku Station to Matsumoto Station with 1 service per 30 minutes. 1 hour from Nagano Station with 1train per 30 minutes.

By car

Features

This castle is one of four national treasure castles(Himeji Castle, Hikone Castle, Inuyama Castle) in Japan.The oldest Tenshu (watchtower) remains.You can get unique perspectives of the grand Tenshu(watchtower) against the backdrop ofthe Japanese Northern Alps in different seasons.This watchtower has a characteristic black wall.It is one of the greatest castles in Japan. ...

These streets will take the visitor back to the Edo period.Old black tiled houses and white joints in the wood supports are typical of that period.You will surely love the walk, and the feeling of at home there....

The school was built for elementary school about 150 years ago.This building was designed with western and Japanese mixed styles.It holds a museum and important cultural property and plenty of nostalgia in a beautiful place now....

There is an abundance of ground water in the urban area of Matsumoto city.There are water canals to bring water for the daily use of citizens, for fighting fires.A moat around the town was built during the Edo period.You can get a map of the various spring water installations at the 3rd floor information booth in Matsumoto station....

Kamikochi is a well-known place to see autumn colors, the base for advanced mountain climbers,and hiking routes.Kappabashi Bridge goes over the snow-melt river the mountain in Kamikochi,and there is an attractive view of the mountainsfrom this bridge.There are mountain climbing and a hiking map available at the information booth of the Matsumoto JR station.There are few hotels around there. &...

Mount Norikura is an active volcano(3,026m height) a very broad skirt.You can enjoy a magnificent view from the mountaintop.The mountaintop can be reached around a 1 hour 30 minute-walk on the trail from “Tatamidaira”which is the highest bus route of Japan (2700m).Although the mountaintop is over 3,000m high,it is known to be easier to climb than other Japanese 3,000m mountains. ...

Norikura-kogen is the hillside of Mount Norikura.It is well known as summer resorts, climbing and hiking activities, autumn color viewing, and ski resorts.There are also many onsen resorts around there, so many tourists visit for bathing only....

Shinhodaka Ropeway is the only Japanese double decker gondola to enjoy superb viewat more than 2,000m above sea level.The observatory of the summit is on above of Nishihotakaguchi Station 2,156m above sea level.The vast Alps mountain panorama of 360 degrees can be enjoyed.It is a highlight of the Northern Alps....